The Erotic Literary Salon will be held Tuesday, June 19. The evening will start with the Adult Sex-Ed Salon a one-hour program devoted to sex and sexuality. The audience will have the opportunity to pose any questions regarding sex and sexuality anonymously.Sexologist Susana Mayer, PhD, along with co-host Walter will facilitate the Adult Sex-Ed Salon and attendees interested in sharing their knowledge and experiences will join in the discussion. This is always an extremely lively, audience driven Q & A period.

Featured reader Lola LePaon is a published erotica author. She will read the first story in her recently released book, “Flick,” based on the split decision moment when you decide to refrain or give in to something definitively; whether it is cheating, or revenge, or experimentation. Each story builds up to a decision, and the reader selects the direction. The word “flick” by definition means a sudden movement or to propel as such. In this instance the reader is propelled into fantasy. “Flick” is erotica framed as a choose your own adventure story. Instagram: @FLICK_by_Lola; Twitter: @Author_Lola

PHILADELPHIA: The Erotic Literary Salon, unique in the English-speaking world has launched a growing movement mainstreaming erotica. Salons attract a supportive audience of 60 or more individuals. Approximately 10-15 attendees participate as writers, readers, storytellers, spoken-word performers of original works. The audience has the opportunity to participate reading sexuality quotes from various books or they can just listen, enjoy and applaud. Sign-up to read at the door; guidelines can be found at the Salon’s website.

Salons gather the 3rd Tuesday of every month at TIME (The Bohemian Absinthe Lounge), 1315 Sansom Street, Center City, Philadelphia. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., for cocktails, food and conversation. Adult Sex-Ed between 7:00-8:00, readings begin at approximately8:30. Admission is $12, discounted for students and seniors to $10. Salon attendees must be 21.

Creator of this event, Dr. Susana, is Philadelphia’s best-known sexologist. She lends her voice to the Salon by offering relevant information to support the discussions that arise in the Salon and blog.

“…surprisingly comfortable….Salon devotees praise her for the space she has created….”

“I think Susana is doing a very brave thing.”

Philadelphia Inquirer, February 10, 2010

“There are laughter and tears along with the hot rush of blood – to the face.

Daily News, March 15, 2010

“I never knew such a life of honesty could exist. I finally found a home I can be comfortable in…this event changed my life.

A listing of some books people mentioned at the last Salon, in response to an Adult Sex-Ed Question: “What are some really good erotica readings?” Presumably to get turned on while reading. Before you read the list (below this article) you might be interested in several short videos of women getting turning on while reading, but not by the words – a hidden vibrator. Fun to watch nonetheless.

Women Orgasm While Reading… For The Sake Of Art, Of Course (NSFW)

In the videos below, a series of women sit at a desk and read a book of their choosing aloud. As their reading session continues, you may notice a quickness of breath, some fumbling over easily legible words, light panting, shivering, giggling and moaning.

No, these physical reactions aren’t responses to the texts themselves, but rather to an unseen assistant pleasuring said women with vibrators under the table. Eventually, they climax. The piece, by artist Clayton Cubitt, is titled “Hysterical Literature,” and is slated to go on view as part of Mass MoCA’s “Bibliothecaphilia“ exhibition later this month.

“I sat the readers at a table,” Cubitt told The Daily Beast, “and I showed what society wants to see on top of the table, and I hid the sex under the table. I wanted to see what people would react to more: what they could see, or what they imagined.”

“Bibliothecaphilia” addresses the quiet, mystical allure of the library — a space of escape, of solitude, of transcendence. With the rise of eBooks and library apps, these strange sacred spaces sometimes teeter on becoming obsolete. The group show features artists who unpack our appetites for libraries in all their physical and mythical glory.

While Cubitt’s video series certainly touches on the love of libraries, it simultaneously explores themes of feminism, sexuality, hysteria and authenticity. The moving portraits, shot in stark black-and-white, are part fine art, part viral click-bait, part literary ode, part pornography.

Despite the obvious erotic appeal of Cubitt’s project, the importance extends beyond just sex. For many of the female participants, the session presented an opportunity for women to proudly express their sexualities and retain their power — a man is never pictured on screen. “This is my revolutionary act of selfishness,” wrote one participant of her experience, “my virtual picket sign… my one-woman rally… my rebel yell… my sedentary march… a call for dialogue and understanding.”

The series title, “Hysterical Literature,” alludes to Victorian-era treatments for female “hysteria,” which often incorporated vibrating patients. It also evokes associations to the religious ecstasies of the middle ages, as the subjects’ spoken words are imbued with erotic ecstasy.

The films, at once intellectually and sexually stimulating, juxtapose the cultured pursuit of reading with the more deviant pastime of masturbation. “I don’t remember exactly when I decided to combine this with reading.“ Cubitt explained, “At some point it occurred to me that the choice of books is such a personal one, that it could serve as a proxy for our idealized personality, while the physical distraction could try to destroy it. And that also allowed me to poke fun at the idea that our mind is somehow ‘better’ or more ‘us’ than our body. How nobly we view the act of reading, compared to the act of sex.”

“The authors I mentioned the other night were Emma Holly and Cecilia Tan. I may have mentioned a few others but I can’t remember offhand.

Holly writes erotic romances, often delving into paranormal erotica and BDSM. Some of her works are more toward mainstream romance, but when she turns toward *erotic* erotica she writes some of the best sex scenes I’ve ever seen in print. I recommend All U Can Eatand Cooking Up A Storm– both contemporary erotica standalone books. Her website is http://emmaholly.com/

Cecilia Tan is one of my personal heroes. Not only does she fuse sci-fi/fantasy/speculative fiction with erotica, often with BDSM & LGBTQ themes, she also founded Circlet Press (“Erotica for Geeks”, http://circlet.com/) which is devoted to publishing that genre. Her short story collection Black Feathersis a good starting point, or her novel The Velderet. Her personal website is http://ceciliatan.com/.

I also mentioned BookBub (http://bookbub.com/), which collects discounted and free ebook offers. I subscribe to their daily newsletter, which nearly always includes at least one erotica title (too often along the lines of the dreaded “Sexy Billionaire” trope) and often has free titles. There are similar services out there but so far BookBub is the only one I know of that includes erotica.

Who else? Janine Ashbless (http://www.janineashbless.com/), Rose Caraway’s The Sexy Librarian’s Big Book of Erotica, (S&S’s Cleis Press imprint, http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Sexy-Librarians-Big-Book-of-Erotica/Rose-Caraway/9781627780773), and a big shout out to anything by Logan Belle (the author, not to be confused with the singer-songwriter: http://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Logan-Belle/406674085).

That’s all I’ve got for now.” – Thank you Jon

I would like to add: Violet Blue, an erotica author and editor. Her website https://www.tinynibbles.com has a great blog and links to her work at Literate Smut on her menu bar.

‘The Shape of Water’ Dildo: We Just Spoke With the Creator of the Amphibian Man-Inspired Sex Toy

Whether or not “The Shape of Water” wins the Best Picture trophy at the Oscars next month, it’s already inspired a different kind of statuette. This one’s a dildo.

XenoCat Artifacts is selling a sex toy inspired by Amphibian Man — a.k.a. The Asset — in their Etsy shop. The 100 percent silicon dildo is essentially a mockup of what artist and co-owner Ere and her partner Ink believe the big-screen sea creature’s penis — alluded to but not seen in the film — would look like. Naturally, we had to talk to them all about it.

“I’ve been anticipating this movie for a while,” Ere, an assumed name for her unique line of work, told us on Thursday. “The shape, the character design are gorgeous — and I love [Guillermo] del Toro’s work.”

The best part for a small business like theirs? The two-person team already had a mold that would work perfectly. Previously called “The Prince,” (no, not after the late singer, though the “Raspberry Beret” musician certainly inspired some sex toy play himself, may God rest his soul) the model boasts “ruffled, gill-like” ridges and a “wave” shape. Oh, it also has four piercings — a Prince Albert and a Jacob’s Ladder (if you know what those are). You go, Amphibian Man.

To adapt it for fans of the latest del Toro flick, Ere just had to do some color-matching. Remixed in blues and greens and blacks and re-titled “The Jewel of the Amazon,” the Asset toy sold out its original run of 20 in two days, Ere told TheWrap. That netted them about $2,000.

We’ll break those economics down for our readers. A non-custom “Shape of Water”-inspired toy runs $70 for a “medium” and $50 for a “small.” XenoCat customers can tack on $20 more for custom elements — like a different firmness, for example.

And we know you’re wondering, so we asked: The medium dildo is 7 and-a-half inches in length, 7 inches of which are “insertable.” It has a 6-inch circumference around at its widest point. The small is 6 inches long, 5 inches of which are insertable. That one has a 4 and-a-half inch circumference.

Each toy contains body safe pigments and can be boiled to clean. They’re all handmade, and take about two and-a-half hours to create. See the finished product here:

Due to popular demand, Ere and Ink plan to make another limited run of 20 and post them to Etsy in time for next month’s Academy Awards. Yes, this is their full-time job.

While she’s “got plans” for more movie and video game-inspired toys (maybe “Monster Hunter,” definitely not “Jurassic Park”) Ere’s also got her sights set on going Hollywood in another way.

A part-time prop-maker — she made a chest plate for a “Resident Evil” character — Ere would love to create masks and prosthetics on the side for movie sets, or for theater like Cirque de Soleil. But don’t worry, loyal XenoCat customers, her true joy will always lie in giving you pleasure.

The Erotic Literary Salon will be held Tuesday, April 17. The evening will start with the Adult Sex-Ed Salon a one-hour program devoted to sex and sexuality. The audience will have the opportunity to pose any questions regarding sex and sexuality anonymously. Sexologist Susana Mayer, PhD, along with co-host Walter will facilitate the Adult Sex-Ed Salon and attendees interested in sharing their knowledge and experiences will join in the discussion. This is always an extremely lively, audience driven Q & A period.

The Erotic Literary Salon will feature Daniel Berlin who has been writing erotica for nearly 20 years, and recently has been producing audio porn. Philadelphia provides the perfect backdrop for his erotic personal essays, Lust in the Age of Anxiety, which explores the drama and humor surrounding intimacy and sexual relationships from the POV of an inexperienced 30-something, who just wants to make sense of it all. He will be selecting a few of his favorite pieces for the showcase to exemplify his themes and style, which becomes a performance, and more than just words on a page. Berlin has pulled together his wide range of skills and interests: from music, cuisine, and literature, to electronics, religion, race, and drugs; to draw meaning and insight during some of life’s most confusing times.

PHILADELPHIA: The Erotic Literary Salon, unique in the English-speaking world has launched a growing movement mainstreaming erotica. Salons attract a supportive audience of 60 or more individuals. Approximately 10-15 attendees participate as writers, readers, storytellers, spoken word performers of original works. The audience has the opportunity to participate reading sexuality quotes from various books or they can just listen, enjoy and applaud. Sign-up to read at the door; guidelines can be found at the Salon’s website.

Salons gather the 3rd Tuesday of every month at TIME (The Bohemian Absinthe Lounge), 1315 Sansom Street, Center City, Philadelphia. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., for cocktails, food and conversation. Adult Sex-Ed between 7:00-8:00, readings begin at approximately 8:30. Admission is $12, discounted for students and seniors to $10. Salon attendees must be 21.

Creator of this event, Dr. Susana, is Philadelphia’s best-known sexologist. She lends her voice to the Salon by offering relevant information to support the discussions that arise in the Salon and blog.

“…surprisingly comfortable….Salon devotees praise her for the space she has created….”

“I think Susana is doing a very brave thing.”

Philadelphia Inquirer, February 10, 2010

“There are laughter and tears along with the hot rush of blood – to the face.

Daily News, March 15, 2010

“I never knew such a life of honesty could exist. I finally found a home I can be comfortable in…this event changed my life.

EBOOK – “SenSexual: A Unique Anthology 2013”

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4 Videos Below-Readings are only recorded at the request of the presenter.

Monica Day performance/reading two poems: The Fifth Year and This is My Body for January 2013 Erotic Literary Salon
M. Dante reading SKIN dedicated to the art and inspiration of Heide Hatry for December 2013 Erotic Literary Salon
Frances' reading,“Go the Fok to Sleep”
Dr. Susana Mayer’s NBC10 interview of “50 Shades of Grey”